Suffolk – Bawdsey – 15th March 2009

Moving out of Essex and back into Suffolk, we head for the small pits at Bawdsey. First we clock a Red-crested Pochard in the first lagoon along with Goosander, Great-crested & Little Grebe. Walking along there are numerous Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails in and out of the Reeds & Tamarisk. Then finally we set eyes on our first true summer visitor, two Willow Warblers bouncing around the Tamarisk.

In the other pools there are a mixture of Pochard, Coot & Widgeon and a likely looking Sparrowhawk soars high over. Life bird count: 376 Year bird count: 127 Month bird count: 72

Essex – Abberton & Mistley – 15th March 2009

Reports of early Sand Martins and late Grebes lead us to decide on a trip out to these two sites. Arriving on the lower of the two causeways at Abberton there was a good collection of Wild Fowl but nothing too inspiring. Then up to the Layer de la Haye crossing, we found Sky Lark displaying, Goldeneye still present, two Slavonian Grebes still in winter plumage and a distant Black-necked Grebe in summer plumage.

From there we drove up to Mistley and off the Walls had good views of Little Egret, large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Black Swans in flight and a whole feast of common Ducks and Swans. Life bird count: 376 Year bird count: 124 Month bird count: 65

Suffolk – Minsmere – 7th March 2009

We drove out through the Suffolk countryside, lots of Pheasants in the fields and large flocks of Wood Pigeon moving aound. Arrived at Minsmere on a quite a busy day so decide to focus on the East side. Looking out to sea was very unproductive, with just a few Great-crested Grebes to be seen a long way out.

The water on the scrape was very high, so short legged waders were scarce, with just a hand full on Dunlin. There was quite a gathering of Black-tailed Godwits and some Avocets feeding. Gulls are in abundance and the Black-headed are pairing up in their raucous style, there is also quite a few Mediterranean Gulls evident but too far out to photograph. Gadwall, Widgeon and Shellduck are also common place Life bird count: 376 Year bird count: 121 Month bird count: 47

Suffolk – “out the back” – 1st March 2009

Getting out and about this weekend proved a bit difficult, so we took stock of what we going on right on our own door step. With birds quite evidently pairing it was interesting to see, that where you thought it was for example one Blue Tit visiting, closer inspection proved it was two different birds, this was equally true of Greenfinch, Dunnock and Chaffinch.

Of special note however was, what I always think of as a turning point and that was a Chiffchaff calling from the trees. Here we go… eyes down for another year! Life bird count: 376 Year bird count: 120 Month bird count: 20